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12 August 2025
 
 

Joe McCall

Preston North End FC

 5 appearances, 1 debut goal

P 5 W 4 D 0 L 1 F 13: A 10
80% successful
1913-20

captain: one
minutes played: 450
Timeline
  Joseph McCall
Birth Tuesday, 6 July 1886 in Medlar-in-Wesham, near Kirkham, Lancashire
  registered in Fylde July-September 1886
Baptism Sunday, 11 July 1886, at St. Joseph's Church in Medlar-in-Wesham
Education Attended Willows Roman Catholic School in Kirkham
 

According to the 1891 census, Joseph is the youngest of four children to Thomas and Jane (née Blacoe). His father works at the local cotton mill. They live on Wright Street in Wesham.
According to Willow RC School Register, Joseph, and his older brother Thomas, began attending on 1 December 1892. They lived at 41 Freckleton Street, however, it does state that Joseph was incorrectly born on 10 October 1886.

 

According to the 1901 census, Joseph remains the youngest of four. He is a cotton weaver, his father is now a bricklayer. They all live at 7 Fylde Street in Kirkham.
 

According to the 1911 census, Joseph, a professional footballer, remains at home with his parents and four boarders. They still live at 7 Fylde Street. The census reveals that his parents had eight children, and an incredible five had died.
His mother died in spring 1913.
Marriage to Mary Alice Blackhurst, on Monday, 18 August 1913 in Kirkham, Lancashire
  registered in Fylde July-September 1913
Children Joe and Mary McCall have two children together. Joseph (b.26 May 1914) and Barbara M. (b.1924)
"At Fleetwood, to-day, William Dawson Cropper was charged on remand with obtaining a cheque by false pretences. Supt. Foster said accused was a native of Rochdale. Henry Beesley, farmer and licensee of the Clifton Arms Hotel, Westby-with-Plumpton, said accused called on him on May 18th, and on his statement that he wished to purchase a magneto and other accessories from Joe McCall, at Wrea Green, he gave him a cheque for £3, prisoner promising to repay the money within a day or two. J. McCall, professional footballer, said he had never seen accused before, and had no such articles as those mentioned for sale. Accused was committed to Preston Sessions." - The Lancashire Daily Post, Friday, 4 June 1920
  According to the 1921 census, Joseph, still a professional footballer (for Preston North End FC), is now married to Mary Alice, and they have one son, Joseph. With his wife's mother, Mary Ann Blackhurst, they live at The Bungalow, on Mill Lane in Wrea Green.
His father died in spring 1923.
"JOE McCALL RETIRES  Joe McCall, has decided to retire from the game... [He] is now to devote his time and attention to farming at Rich Fylde, where he was born.." - Evening News, Monday,4 May 1925
"WREA GREEN CELEBRATES  MISS BARBARA McCALL CROWNED ROSE QUEEN
"Miss Barbara McCall, daughter of Mr. Joe McCall, was crowned Rose Queen of Wrea Green at the Club Day festivities on Saturday. Miss McCall wore a dress of pearl satin with satin train, lined with pink. She had a coronet and a bouquet of pink roses." - Lytham Times, Friday, 9 July 1937
  "A familiar face will be missing from the Wrea Green side this season, as Joe McCall has decided to retire from regular cricket. It is over 35 years since he first played in the Palace Shield competition, and during that period he has won championship medals for both divisions, and also the individual prizes for both batting and bowling." - The Lancashire Daily Post, Tuesday, 25 April 1939
  According to the 1939 register, Joseph, a poultry farmer, and Mary A., are still married and they still live at The Bungalow on Mill Lane, along with their son, Joseph and his wife, Mary.
"WREA GREEN PORTER  KILLED
"JOSEPH KIRKHAM, aged 55, a railway porter, of Manor Cottage, Wrea Green, brother-in-law of Mr. Joe McCall, sustained fatal injuries when he was involved in a collision with a motor car, driven by William Leigh, of Knott Cottage, Walton-le-Dale, at Westby-with-Plumpton on Saturday night." - The Lancashire Daily Post, Monday, 13 November 1939
"DEATHS  McCALL.—On the 11th inst., at the Royal Infirmary, JOSEPH, dearly loved husband of MARY McCALL, Oakenhead, Goosnargh-lane, Goosnargh, son of JOSEPH and MARY ALICE McCALL, The Bungalow, Wrea Green, aged 31 years. Requiem Monday, 9.30 a.m., St. Anne's, Westby. R.I.P." - The Lancashire Daily Post, Saturday, 13 April 1946
"ALLEGED RUG THEFT  Lewis Rayton (25), of Wrea Green, farm labourer, pleaded guilty to stealing a motor rug and cushion, valued 6, property of Joseph McCall, Wrea Green. He had left the articles in his car and missed them next day." - Lytham Times, Friday, 24 September 1948
  "Joe McCall, a great footballer who lives with his memories, has just celebrated his 76th birthday at his home at Mill Lane, Wrea Green, Kirkham, Lancs.." - The Liverpool Echo, Tuesday, 31 July 1962
Death Wednesday, 3 February 1965 at his home at The Bungalow, Mill Lane, Wrea Green in Kirkham, Lancashire
aged 78 years 212 days registered in Fylde January-March 1965
Obituary
"PLAYED FOR ENGLAND
 "Joe McCall, the former Preston and England centre half, died at his home in Wrea Green, near Preston to-day. He was 79. McCall played five times for his country between 1913 and 1921, and also appeared in two 'Victory' internationals against Scotland after the First World War. He captained Preston in the F.A. Cup Final of 1922 which Huddersfield won 1-0."
  - The Liverpool Echo, Wednesday, 3 February 1965
Funeral February 1965 at St. Anne's Churchyard in Westby, Lancashire
Probate "McCALL Joseph of The Bungalow Mill La Wrea Green Lancs died 3 February 1965 Administration London 14 August. Effects £3249." [2025 equivalent: £55,123]
  His wife, Mary, died on 3 December 1988, and is buried with her husband
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 He played with Kirkham FC before being signed by Preston North End FC as an amateur in 1905 'for a £5 note,' turning professional in July 1906. After failing to secure a second benefit match, McCall was a target of Liverpool FC, who 'offered a substantial fee' on 17 December 1919. However, the Preston club and McCall came to an 'amicable settlement' the following day. McCall attempted to retired from football during the 1923 summer, however Preston called him back for the 1923-25 seasons. He did retire however, on 4 May 1925, following North End's relegation.
League honours
30 appearances, 15 goals		 Preston North End FC 1906-25 370 appearances, fifteen goals
debut: 15 September 1906 Preston North End FC 0 Woolwich Arsenal FC 3.
last: 17 January 1925 Preston North End FC 1 Leeds United AFC 4.
Club honours Football League Division Two winners 1912-13 (33ᵃ 1ᵍ);
FA Charity Shield winners 1913 (Professionals);
FA Cup runners-up 1921-22 (5ᵃ);
Individual honours Football League (two appearances)
Distinctions McCall Close, off Mill Lane, in Wrea Green is named after Joseph
Height/Weight 5' 8½", 11st. 12lbs [1919].
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number One of seven who became the 368th players (370) to appear for England.
The sixtieth Lancastrian to play for England.
Position(s) Centre-half
First match No. 115, 17 March 1913, England 4 Wales 3, a British Championship match at Ashton Gate, Ashton Vale, Bedminster, Bristol, aged 26 years 254 days.
Last match
7 years 220 days		 No. 123, 23 October 1920, England 2 Ireland 0, a British Championship match at Roker Park Ground, Association Road, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, aged 34 years 109 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1912-13, 1913-14, 1919-20, 1920-21;
Team honours British Championship winners 1912-13;
Individual honours The Professionals (one appearance, October 1913);
England Trial (six appearances 2ᵍ 2ᶜ, November 1913-February 1921);
The North (one appearance, April 1919);
England Victory (two appearances, April-May 1919);
Distinctions None

Beyond England
Apart from being an excellent professional cricketer for many Lancashire clubs, from which he retired from in April 1939, also coaching at Stoneyhurst College, he was a smallholder and poultry farmer at Wrea Green, near Kirkham (left, is an example of a 1933 advert placed in the local newspaper). - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.162.


The Numbers
parties Apps comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
5 5 5 450 1 450 min 1 one
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
5 4 0 1 13 10 +3 0 2 2.6 2 80 +3
all of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record
Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 4 4 0 0 12 7 +5 0 2 4.00 1.75 100.0 +4
Away 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2 0 0 1.00 3.00 0.00 -1

Captain Record
  
Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home (Ireland) 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 0 1 2.00 0.00 100.0 +1
1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 0 1 2 0 100 +1

Opposition Record
  
Opposition P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Scotland 3 2 0 1 7 7 =0 0 1 2.333 2.333 66.7 +1
Wales 1 1 0 0 4 3 +1 0 0 4.00 3.00 100.0 +1
Ireland 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 0 1 2.00 0.00 100.0 +1

Tournament Record
British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1912-13 2 2 0 0 5 3 +2 0 1 2.50 1.50 100.0 +2
BC 1913-14 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2 0 0 1.00 3.00 0.00 -1
BC 1919-20 1 1 0 0 5 4 +1 0 0 5.00 4.00 100.0 +1
BC 1920-21 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 0 1 2.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC All 5 4 0 1 13 10 +3 0 2 2.60 2.00 80.0 +3

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 5 4 0 1 13 10 +3 0 2 2.60 2.00 80.0 +3
5 4 0 1 13 10 +3 0 2 2.6 2 80 +3

Match History

 Club: Preston North End F.C. - five full appearances (450 min) 1ᵍ 1ᶜ

F.A. International Select Committee - five full appearances (450 min) 1ᵍ 1ᶜx

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 26
1 115 17 March 1913 - England 4 Wales 3
Ashton Gate, Bedminster		 BC HW  35 ch

one of seven who became the 368th player (370) to appear for England
the eighth Preston North End FC player to represent England
the 66th player to score on his England debut

2 116 5 April 1913 - England 1 Scotland 0
Stamford Bridge, Fulham		 BC HW   ch
 

Age 27 trial  
three appearances - The Professionals vs. The Amateurs, October 1913;
The South vs. England, November 1913; The North vs. England▼, January 1914;

3 119 4 April 1914 - Scotland 3 England 1
Hampden Park, Glasgow		 BC AL   ch
 


Age 32 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 14 April 1919;
 

Victory
Inter'nals		 26 April 1919 - England 2 Scotland 2
Goodison Park, Liverpool		 Fr HW   ch
3 May 1919 - Scotland 3 England 4
Hampden Park, Glasgow		 Fr AW   ch

Age 33 trial  
two appearances - The South vs. England, 9 February 1920; The North vs. England, 25 February 1920;

...6 years 6 days since last England appearance

4 122 10 April 1920 - England 5 Scotland 4
Hillsborough, Sheffield		 BC HW   ch

Age 34 trial  
two appearancesᶜ - The South vs. England, 7 February 1921; The North vs. England, 28 February 1921;

5 123 23 October 1920 - England 2 Ireland 0
Roker Park Ground, Sunderland		 BC HW   ᶜch
 

the 37th player to captain England

 

 
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